How to Find Your Happy Place
Hint: it won’t require an airplane
“Wherever you go, there you are.” — Confucius
The above adage is attributed to the ancient Chinese philosopher and teacher Confucius but has also appeared in modern work — being quoted by spiritual teachers and writers.
Simply put, it means that wherever we live, or go, we are taking ourselves along. We cannot escape ourselves. It is a reminder to us all to live in the present moment, but I know from experience, it is easier said than done.
Sometimes, we want to escape a situation or a place that is making our lives difficult. And that is a good thing — we shouldn’t have to endure a traumatic existence when there are other ways to live our lives. However, what we should always bear in mind is that wherever we go, we are our main companion and sometimes the only one we cannot leave behind. Therefore, we should treat ourselves kindly.
The balancing act
Not long ago, I was chatting with a young woman, at least she is younger than me, and we were talking about life in general. Then she asked me how I was doing, but before I could answer, she asked me: “How are you filling the days?” I was a little taken aback, and I think she could sense that my answer wasn’t as quick and precise as she perhaps expected.
